"C'mon, Zao, take the ponytail out!" you begged, trying to reach the 2p's hair.

Zao, as oblivious to your major crush on him as ever, swatted your hand away. "Not a chance, (Y/N)."

"But you'd probably look cute!" you insisted, not giving up.

In order to protect his poor hair, Zao caught hold of your wrists and held you back.

"I'd look too much like Yao." He paused. "You know how I usually take whatever I want?" he asked abruptly.

"Ah, yeah," you agreed, though you couldn't see the point in the question. "I wouldn't really call it a winning trait, though. Like how you stole my house key. By the way, I still want that back and don't want to know what you wanted it for."

"Would it interest you to know there's one thing I've wanted for a while but haven't taken yet?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at you.

You frowned. "Possibly. Zao, I swear, if I wake up tomorrow and my car's gone-"

He pressed a finger to your lips, 'tch'ing softly.

"I don't want your freaking car," he said. "And I don't want to forcibly take this thing."

"That's kinda not like you," you commented, then hesitantly added, "Is this thing, ah, a . . . person?"

"Yes."

"Aw~ my cutie's in love," you teased, even though you were inwardly plotting an accident for whoever this mystery person was.

"Don't call me that," he muttered.

Was it just you, or were his cheeks slightly pinker than normal? "Don't call you what?" you asked innocently. "Cute? But Zao, you are cute."

His grip tightened slightly. "Stop it. I hate that word."

"Cute?"

"Yes."

"But haven't you ever just wanted to squish someone's cute cheeks? Or take out their ponytail to see how much cuter it might make them?"

"No. I don't call things cute. It's demeaning."

"No, it's not! It's sweet. Don't you at least think things are cute? To yourself?"

"No."

"So you don't think I'm cute?" you asked, pouting slightly.

The pink in his cheeks turned to red. "No," he said flatly.

Ouch. Well, you had asked-

"I think you're beautiful," he said, somehow managing to keep a straight face at the sight of your expression. "And sexy~"

It was your turn to blush.

"Zao, what the-"

He released your wrists, suddenly looking wary, as if he was expecting you to bean him with the nearest blunt object.

"Zao," you said seriously, grabbing one of his hands. "Do you like me? As in like like me?"

He met your gaze in silence, as inexpressive when it came to his real feelings as ever. Fortunately, you knew him well enough to understand what he didn't say. You rolled your eyes.

"Zao, have you honestly not noticed that I like you too?" you asked.

He stared at you a moment longer, and a slow smirk began curving his lips. "I see . . . In that case, there's one more thing I want right now."

"Is it this?" you guessed, pecking his lips.

"Almost."

He pulled you closer and kissed you properly.